4 hours agoThe EU expresses deep concern for the draft Mediterranean Games Pristina 2030%: Maintaining vulnerability to corruption
Periskopi(2 months ago)
(2 months ago)The European Union has expressed deep concern over the draft bill XXI Mediterranean Games Pristina 2030%, which is expected to be adopted in second reading in the Assembly today. The EU office in Pristina yesterday has sent a letter to Parliament Speaker Albulen Haxhiu, where they have expressed their concerns about this [...]
The EU office in Pristina yesterday has sent a letter to Parliament Speaker Albulen Haxhiu, where they have expressed their concerns about the bill.
In this letter, it is estimated that the current bill poses significant risks for managing public finances (MFP), transparency and accountability.
According to the EU, this bill would have significant budgetary implications of around 254m euros.
Of the main concerns of the EU is the bypassing of existing public procurement legislation.
“Applicating specific rules allowing the bypassing of existing public procurement legislation, as well as their priority in conflict with any other law”, it says in the EU letter, pointing to second concern.
“Role and the scope of the Special Monitoring Unit mandated to be created by the Government pose risks due to its unclear legal statute in the bill, independence and reporting structure, which could conflict with existing bodies for oversight of”, is said on paper.
Then there is the EU's third concern.
The organisation of the Mediterranean Games (OCMG), as provided in the bill, appears not to be related to existing public procurement laws, but rather, to establish its procurement rules based on vague principles (e.g. the best international practice of transparency, integrity, etc). Lack of legal clarity and accountability raises serious concerns about compliance with standards for public financial management”, is said on paper.
According to the EU, the current document of the bill risks undermining compliance with EU acquis provisions, weakening fiscal integrity and increasing vulnerability to corruption.
In view of the urgency of the second reading, we recommend that prior to the adoption, the bill be modified according to the need to comply with existing legal provisions for public finance, particularly those provisions related to public procurement, auditing, financial reporting, including anti-corruption and parliamentary monitoring”, the EU letter concludes.
